HSI wrong to take such a definitive view

The concept of three-rider teams in the Olympics is a major leap for equestrian sport, yet Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) seems to have made its mind up about its approach without having walked the course.

The proposal was heavily debated at the Federation Equestre Internationale sports forum in Lausanne, Switzerland, last week, with the FEI Bureau then concluding the 2020 Olympics should feature teams of a maximum of three, or, one individual, per nation. The change will be voted on at the FEI General Assembly in Tokyo next November.

However, HSI looks to have taken up a position on the issue without having allowed for full consultation. In an article in The Irish Field, HSI chief executive Damian McDonald gave the background to the proposal, before going on to outline what was headed as the “HSI position”.